Bachelor in Biology
Greenville, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 36,364 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* additional fees apply for international students: services fee $1000 | medical insurance $1600
Key Summary
Introduction
The major program in biology provides students with a broad background in various areas of biology and prepares students to understand and use biological principles and methods. The relevance of biology to other disciplines is emphasized. The program promotes participation in laboratory and field studies. Students are prepared upon graduation to enter graduate school, professional school, or careers in biologically-related areas.
Major Features
- Understand biological principles and their implications from the molecular to the ecosystem levels of the organization.
- Discover how the social sciences and traditional combine in the most effective conservation strategies.
- Study, analyze experimentally, and interpret biological problems.
- Communicate effectively about biological and ecological matters.
Curriculum
Major Requirements - Bachelor of Arts Degree
The requirements for the biology major are structured so that students take at least one course in each of several areas of biology and related sciences. BIO 145 serves as a prerequisite for each of the upper-level biology courses. Courses that consider the characteristics of major kinds of life (BIO 212, 222, 262, and 263) are intended to follow BIO 145 (after completed with a C minus or better) and should be started before other upper-level biology courses are taken. Additional courses in biology, related sciences, and math are important for advanced work in biological fields.
I. Foundational Courses
- BIO 145 Foundations of Biology
And one of the following four systematics courses:
- BIO 262 Animal Systematics
- BIO 222 Entomology
- BIO 263 Plant Systematics
- BIO 212 Microbiology
II. Breadth in the Discipline of Biology
Students must take all five courses:
- BIO 290 Cell Biology: A Molecular Approach
- BIO 322 Genetics
- BIO 342 Biostatistics and Research Methods
- BIO 392 General Ecology
- One elective from any four-credit, 200 or 300-level BIO lab course, except BIO 350—Principles of Immunology. Students may also choose from NCSI 202, 209, or 315.
Note: Courses applied as foundational courses may not also be applied as breadth in the discipline courses.
III. Senior Capstone Experience in Biology
A completed research project under the supervision of a biology department faculty member is required of the student majoring in biology. The project is culminated with a formal scientific research paper and a formal oral presentation. See the biology chair for specific requirements of the research project.
Students must take both of these courses:
- BIO 395 Junior Research Seminar
- BIO 462 Senior Seminar
And one of the following two courses:
- BIO 452 Advanced Biology
- BIO 482 Independent Study
IV. Related Math and Science Courses
- MATH 142 Precalculus (minimum requirement)
And one of the following three pairings:
- CHEM 140 General Chemistry I
- CHEM 160 General Chemistry II
OR
- PHYS 154 Physics I (non-calculus based)
- PHYS 164 Physics II (non-calculus based)
OR
- PHYS 174 Physics I (calculus-based)
- PHYS 184 Physics II (calculus-based)
Career Opportunities
Thiel College alumni have gone on to become pharmacy technicians, veterinary technicians, laboratory technicians, and much more! Here are just a few post-graduation opportunities available to biology and conservation biology majors:
- Research Biologist: Work in research and you can expect to earn an average of $70,790 per year. Some industries pay more. Biologists working in governmental institutions earned an average of $74,980 and pharmaceutical firms pay $79,220.*
- Biological Technicians: These jobs pay an average of $42,520. The top 10% of these jobs pay over $69,000.*
- Conservation Scientists plan ways to utilize natural resources but still protect the environment. The median salary is currently $61,110 per year.*
- Zoologists who specialize in conservation biology study endangered species and research methods of protection. The median salary is currently $59,680 per year.*
*Job and salary information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Study.com.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarship Opportunities
Thiel College offers scholarships to students for reasons such as academic success, community service or involvement, exemplary leadership, and more! The scholarships available to biology and conservation biology majors are:
- Marion G. Resch Science Scholarship at Thiel College
- Dr. Florence West Tribute to Dr. Bly
- Ruth and Sheridan Brown Allied Health Scholarship
- The Dr. Judith A Crissman '64 Endowed Scholarship Fund
- The Maenpa Family Biotechnology Endowed Scholarship Fund at Thiel College
- Elizabeth McElhaney Scholarship
- J. Scott Morrison Endowment for Science and Religion
- Arthur E. Smith Scholarship Fund
- TWC Amelia Earhart Scholarship
- The Ethel Smith Vierheller Award Fund
- Irene Wintersteen Memorial Science Scholarship